Introducing Tomiwa Aladekomo, a visionary media entrepreneur and the CEO of Big Cabal Media. With a passion for changing the way Africa is perceived, Tomiwa leads the charge in creating high-quality original content and media brands that have a global reach and impact. 

Profile

Name: Tomiwa Aladekomo
Age: 41
Title: CEO, BIG CABAL MEDIA
Company / Project name: Big Cabal Media
Area of Expertise: Digital Media Technology & Content Creation
City of Residence: Lagos, Nigeria
Vision/Philosophy/Motto: Big Cabal Media (BCM) serves African audiences across the continent and globally by creating high-quality original content and media brands with global reach and impact. Our goal is to change the way Africans see themselves and how the world sees Africa by telling stories that truly matter — and in doing that, build the most globally important and influential African media company.
I am BOLD because … I am working to change the way the world sees Africa. 
First thing that comes to mind when you think of Austria? The Von Trapp family & mountains; the fact that it is a prosperous country. 

How to be innovative

Tell us about your professional background. Are there any milestones you are particularly proud of?

I worked in the media my whole career. I started in advertising for different agencies in Boston and New York. I worked for record labels in the US before moving back to Nigeria. There I worked for a newspaper. I started my own business, which I ran for four years. After that, I went on to be the head of digital for Heineken Nigeria. I helped them build out digital strategies and then I joined a digital agency and worked with a range of clients, the most important of which was The Guardian. We helped them with their entire digital strategy, monetization, content creation, and built their websites. After that, I joined Cabal as CEO and took over from the founders. 

What has been the most valuable lesson life has taught you thus far?

That there is value in boldness, in being daring, in pushing to do the things that matter to you. Sometimes that can be a bit scary or dangerous, but there is real value to it. Boldness has magic in it.

How does being a part of the BOLD Community influence you and your work?

The conference will be the first big engagement with the community so I am very excited about that!

What strategies do you implement to cultivate a culture of innovation within your organization?

We are competing on a global market. So we are looking at what the best media companies in the world are doing. It challenges us and makes us think bigger. Also, we are hiring smart, ambitious, young people. The more responsibility and trust you give them, the more they rise up. We empower people to do their best work.

Is there a particular belief or philosophy that guides your approach to life and work?

Let’s do it. No use in hesitating. We will try a lot of things and fail at a lot of things. It’s never as crushing as you think it might be. And it is rarely the end. Something that inspires me is people who start late in life and succeed late in life. Like Ray Kroc, the guy who built up McDonald’s. He started that when he was almost 60. There is always a lot of life left. You can always start again so you might as well try. 

What do you think people should learn from each other to foster innovation and collaboration?

Empathy is important. We need the capacity to step into other people’s shoes to see the world from other people’s eyes. That allows you to do special things. 

What qualities do you believe will be crucial for success in the future of work?

There is going to be a lot pushing us toward homogeneity of thought. We will need to think for ourselves and not outsource thinking to AI. There will be less originality, so we need the capacity for critical reasoning. To be able to reason through the complexity of the world and to be able to have original ideas instead of relying on lazy thinking. 

Can you share an instance where a failure or setback led to a positive outcome or growth?

I failed a few times. With my first company, we could not build a sustainable business model. After four years, I looked at it and said, yes, there is some good work here but not a business. What came out of it was that I had built a reputation. I learned a lot about working in Nigeria; I keep coming back to the lessons from back then. There is no knowledge that’s wasted. 

What is a BOLD decision you made in your career and why?

Becoming the CEO of Big Cabal Media, a then small startup in a difficult industry.

Explain your innovation

Can you explain your innovation and why it matters? 

Media is really powerful. The stories we tell about us determine how the world engages with us and, more importantly, how we see ourselves.

With Africa, we don’t tell enough of our own stories. What’s important with businesses like Big Cabal is, we find the narratives that we think are important for (young) Africans to see — the stories that matter. We show them there are these brilliant people who are doing excellent work across the continent. There are startups, companies, and areas created by people who look like you or come from the same school as you.

The message is: You, too, can do it. And then we talk to the rest of the world. Invest, engage! If you are thinking about Africa as an investable place, where you put money in and expect a 3x or 10x return, you’re not thinking about it as a charity case but as a place to make money and business.

The first objective is to change the way we think about ourselves and then to have an impact on the way the world thinks about Africa.

How did you get involved in this? 

I knew the business beforehand. The founders tried to hire me and I told them that they couldn’t afford me. So they asked: “Listen, do you wanna run it?” So, I said: “Now that is a conversation.”

How can others contribute to this effort? 

We are a decent size publication, reaching 800,000 people a month. So, subscribing to our platform and reading is very important. We are always looking for advertisers and partners. In October, we have a massive conference coming up called Moonshot (https://moonshot.techcabal.com/). Everyone is welcome to attend, sponsor, partner up.

Quickfire Questions

What's your power breakfast before a big day of innovation?

Eggs and veggies. Coffee, black.

The last book you've read that inspired an innovative idea or approach

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

If you could master a new skill instantly, what would it be and why?

AI in all ways and forms. 

What are your strategies for maintaining work-life balance and prioritizing self-care?

Essentially, work is life and life is work. I spend time with my daughters during the week, I try to work with people I enjoy. There is not a huge separation for me between these two things. 

Your favorite podcast that sparks creativity or offers insightful business trends

Most podcasts I listen to are industry related; I quite like Hard Fork by the New York Times.

What is the most exciting innovation you've recently encountered in your field?

AI — it’s exciting and scary. 

If you could invent any gadget to make your work life easier, what would it be?

Something that helps me take my thoughts and puts them on a piece of paper. 

What achievement, opportunity, or aspect of your work are you most thankful for?

My biggest success is my family, my beautiful life, and wonderful children.